Stress Management Tips for the Tastemaker

Like everything else in life, stress is just one more thing to be conquered with style and grace. When tension takes over, use these ideas—and your high-heeled oxford pumps—to kick it curbside.

Expose Yourself to Art
Nothing soothes a Tastemaker’s soul like a parade of beautiful things. Click to buy (a glossy lipstick, a crisp belt, a graphic pillow), peruse fine art, or enjoy some high-end window-shopping. Research shows that simply shifting your brain activity away from the stressor can be a powerfully uplifting distraction.

Take a Selfie
That’s right. Flip your cell phone lens and capture that grumpy glare. Now force a smile and snap again. So much better—and more relaxed. A study in the journal Psychological Science showed that people who smiled after a stressful task slowed their heart rates more than people who wore a neutral expression. Seeing your smile can also trigger happy emotions, as our brain’s so-called mirror neurons copy the emotions they see.

Go Face First
A slew of new pampering products promise to undo the toll stress takes on your skin, including dryness, dullness and rapid aging. Their double-duty promise: Many contain essential oils, which have been shown to reduce stress perception. Two to try: 21 Drops De-Stress Essential Oil Rollerball, with German chamomile and frankincense, and Aveda’s Stress-Fix Body Lotion and Concentrate, with organic lavender and clary sage.